Philosophication

From John Derbyshire's April Diary:

Disciple: Master, one thing you have never spoken of is how you came to be a philosopher. What was it that turned you to the study of wisdom?

Master: It happened in this way. When I was a young man I fell in love, and had the good fortune to marry the woman I loved. Our families were both happy with the match. There was a great wedding feast, with much dancing and singing, and happiness unconfined. At last I retired with my new bride to our chamber. We caressed; then we made love. Afterwards I sat up in bed and looked down at her, at her dear face on the pillow. The moon was bright and a shaft of silver moonlight fell across her as she smiled up at me in joyful contentment. My heart overflowed with love for her. At that moment I would have done whatever she had asked of me, with all the life force at my command. If she had asked me to be a soldier, I would have become a great general. If she had asked me to go into politics, I would have become a great statesman. If she had asked me to be a poet, I would have written verses that people would still recite a thousand years from now.

Disciple: Oh, I see. She asked you to become a philosopher.

Master: No. She said nothing.